Friends who don't know how to drive noticed, recently on the streets of Suzhou there is a figure of a flower seller, they walk through your car window when people are waiting for traffic lights, lift the flower basket in their hands, and ask "Ah want to buy flowers?" "It's just that very few people roll down the window.
I don't know when it started, the "three flowers" of old Suzhou are a bit out of favor. When it comes to buying flowers, all that comes to mind is roses, and when it comes to buying perfumes, I can only think of a string of luxury brands. The flower-selling positions of the grandmothers have also changed from streets and alleys to garden scenic spots and traffic light gates.
01.
The taste of early summer in Suzhou in the old days
In the early summer of the past, the streets and alleys of Suzhou would always be filled with the sound of shouting "three flowers": "Jasmine, white orchid, tortoiseshell, buy one in five cents." ”
In the old days, perfume was still a luxury, and white orchids were naturally fresh and were the best substitutes. Although the price is cheap and good, not everyone can afford it, and only the exquisite ladies and wives will wear white orchids.
They bought fresh and moist white orchids from their grandmothers who walked the streets, wrapped them carefully with handkerchiefs, put them in the buttons of their cardigans, and put them close to their armpits. ”
Suzhou is a traditional "flower city" with flowers, every summer, the three varieties of white orchids, tortoiseshell flowers, jasmine flowers, by the tiger hill, evergreen area of the grandmother in the basket, to Suzhou city to sell, become a scenery in Suzhou.
02.
Native flowers are gradually being replaced
From May to August of each year, the "three flowers" flowering period is the earliest, followed by white orchid, and jasmine is slightly later. These three kinds of flowers have different shapes and fragrances, but they all reflect the temperament of Suzhou City and the taste of Suzhou people.
In the past, when it was the flowering season, flower farmers got up every day before dawn. Pick the white orchids first, then the jasmine flowers, and the harvest is all day.
Even in the height of summer, flower farmers brave the scorching sun, put on straw hats, put on a towel around their necks, and go to the flowers and trees. Regardless of the wind or rain, the buds of the day must be picked, and the time must not be missed. Picking white orchids, the tallest tree is 5 meters, because at a high place, it is possible to fall down without paying attention, which is a very dangerous job.
According to the "Tiger Hill Town Chronicle", the total output of "three flowers" in Tiger Hill Camellia Village in 1978 was 81310 kg. Until the 1980s, after the reform and opening up, the market liquidity was stronger, and a large number of flowers from other places entered the Suzhou market.
Like Guangdong and Guangxi, the climate is warmer, the cost of planting flowers is lower, and the local flowers in Suzhou are becoming less and less marketable. According to Grandma, most of the flowers sold now come from Guangdong, Zhejiang and Fujian.
03.
Sell flowers in this life, and be beautiful in the next life
Bracelets woven with jasmine flowers, hanging ornaments made of two white orchids, "flower baskets" filled with white orchid petals... Now it may only be in tourist attractions such as Pingjiang Road, Guanqian Street, and Humble Administrator's Garden that you can see Grandma selling flowers with bamboo baskets and trays.
Their fingers flipped, and a string of white and fragrant bracelets was ready. It looks like a small bunch of flowers, and it only sells for one or two dollars, but the grandmothers often arrive at 11 o'clock at night, and they have to string it until two or three o'clock in the morning, which is far more difficult than imagined.
Now the flower sellers on the street, some of them are for livelihood, subsidizing the family, some are just because a person staying at home is very lonely and bored, come out to see the street scene, scatter their minds, if they encounter those who are idle, they also have a ride to talk and chat.
Sell flowers in this life, and be beautiful in the next life. The flower seller still follows the traditional way to shuttle through the downtown crowd, and still uses the most simple method to send the ancient fragrant flower culture to the girls and flowers lovers.
If your childhood was also tenderly treated by the aroma of "three flowers", the next time you meet them at the intersection, you hope to see them more, if you can, buy a bunch of flowers.
"There are good flowers on the flat ground, and good tea in the mountains."